NEW YORK -- If Noah Syndergaard had never returned to the mound in September, he would have considered this a summer devoid of redeeming qualities. Syndergaard's weeks of rest wasted. His physical therapy wasted. His arm strengthening exercises, his weight-lifting, his throwing program wasted.
All Syndergaard wanted was a chance, however brief, to get a glimpse of the return on his blood, sweat and angst. He finally received it Saturday amid all the pomp and circumstance a fourth-place Mets team could muster, usurping Matt Harvey's role to start the Mets' 4-3 10-inning loss to the Nationals at Citi Field.